Note: Title is supposed to be ‘Sweet Dreams’ as explained in 2nd Palkat.

Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good.
-Thomas Aquinas

Disclaimer: This work of fiction is based on true events and confessions during my trials and tribulations. Names, places, and events are slightly modified and altered not to sensationalize but to hide the true personae and identities of the characters and any similarities to your real life experiences are purely accidental, co-incidental, and unintended. Peks man, cross my heart and hope to die. Discretion is strongly advised as some readers might find the contents just a little suggestive.

Doña Ana Rosalea’s face turned pale white upon hearing Miss Lucy’s voice. So that’s how a white person would turn into a whiter shade of pale, F/SI Edo Manzanilla mumbled as he studied the configuration of the building’s ventilation ducts. He had always wondered how white people would look like if their blood were drained from their face.

F/SI Edo found himself oogling… ehh, googling about Doña Ana Rosalea after he saw her with Don Huan, or more accurately, when he saw her with her M60. He found out that her non-Spanish name in real life is Rosalie Ann, born in Ukraine but grew up in Montreal Quebec, a graduate of UM, University of McGill, Master’s Degree obtained at UB, University of Berkeley in California, and PhD and Post PhD obtained in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her fields of specialization were Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and worked mostly with M13 bacteria to study Genetics. How the heck did she end up with M60, F/SI Edo mumbled, as he couldn’t find any info about it. What intrigued him more was that here in real life, Doña Ana Rosalea has also been known as Ma’am H.

“That’s right cuzin Alex,” cuzin Lara Mae reassured cuzin Alex, “Edo has discovered a non-fake news, Doña Ana Rosalea aka Rosalie Ann is also Ma’am H… Ma’am H and Don Huan de Markus actually have a botika or a pharmacy store in Ilocos Norte called Hu-Ha Pharmacy. ‘Hu’ could be from Huan but no one is sure if ‘Ha’ is from Ma’am H’s real name, could be Hazel, or probably because of her Hazel eyes… but their explanation apparently is that ‘Hu-Ha’ is the sound of the first cries of a newborn baby… probably in Ukraine,” cuzin Lara Mae giggled, “ because I know here in the Philippines, a newborn baby would scream U-haaaah! U-haaaah!” Cuzin Alex D. Dario giggled too. Her cuzin Lara Mae could be a comic sometimes.

Cuzin Lara Mae is Lara Mae Dario Garcia. Lara Mae’s mother, Daria Agrifina Ramirez Dario is Chief of Police Dewano ‘Rock’ Dario’s sister. Lara Mae’s father, Barangay Tanod Agrifino Garcia owns the ATAT Security Systems, the A-Tanod Alarm Technologies where Lara Mae works as a ‘Call Center’ Dispatcher. Lara Mae also works full time as an Administrative Assistant at the office of the Chief of Police.

“Daddy Piring knows Ma’am H and Don Huan quite well cuzin Alex through his atanud Mayor Aramiro who is married to the most gorgeous, most beauteous judge, Judge Aramina.”

“That’s right cuzin Alex, probably that’s tadhana, destiny, fate. Speaking of fate, your Police Chief father needs an update regarding casualties. I have already contacted Captain Renato Dimakaidna, the number of casualties apparently is still unknown.”

“That’s right cuzin Lara Mae, the SWAT and Colonel Gingkgo Talunasan’s Delta Force have not breached the 43rd and 44th floors yet. We are trying to resolve this through negotiations. Edo is trying to find a way to reach Christine… it appears the ventilation system is the only way.”

“Alrighty then cuzin Alex, keep us apprised.”

Cuzin Alex resumed to survey the parking lot. She was not surprised to see her Uncle JC standing near the helicopter. “Deing, Uncle JC did it again.” Then cuzin Alex noticed the woman with a white headcover sitting near her Uncle JC. “Look, Edo, is that the Virgin Mary?”

F/SI Edo peeped at his SZ Peepers. He first checked if Detective Preci and Detective Charlie were not doing any chicken dance then panned his EZ Peepers toward the Virgin Mary. “OMG! The Virgin Mary is feeding two infants!”

“Wait Edo, I think that’s Miss Ariana…she does look like the Virgin Mary. Remember Edo, she performed with the Marco San Band during the Police ball…oh sorry Edo… you were not there, you were afflicted with Selosus Pusus, a jealous heart.” Cuzin Alex giggled. F/SI Edo did not giggle; that’s not funny… not funny at all, he thought.

Doña Ana Rosalea took a deep breath, “Although the fire in Christine’s room has been extinguished, Christine… if she survived the blast… Christine is still not safe from Miss Lucy Fer’s fire.”

Meanwhile, MonaLisa the pussycat was also busy trying to figure out how to pickup the radio that was submerged in the water, I need to deliver that to my Master Christine, Mona meowed, why was I born with extreme aquaphobia. She shook her body to get rid of any traces of water. Then she got startled when Christine excitedly declared, “wait Moning, I think I have an idea!”

Meanwhile, Judge JC in a low voice so as not to disturb the nursing twins, “so Miss Lucy, how should we proceed with our dialogue…our intercourse?”

“Not over the phones Judge JC, I don’t trust the phones, we have to do our intercourse face to face.”

“Ok then Miss Lucy. But first, as a sign of goodwill, I know you don’t have an evil heart, you still have a good heart, how about releasing some of the hostages… the injured, the sick… they need to go to the hospital.”

Miss Lucy was quiet for a moment. This Designated Negotiator is good, she thought, probably he is always thinking how to help the sick…just like the real JC… hmn, but, this negotiation is like a chess match… is he trying to outwit me… let me try my first move:

Pawn to Queen 4 or D4.

“You know Judge JC I can’t do that, they are my leverage… how about… you bring your medical staff to them, bring some food too… and Judge JC, only women.”

Hmn, Judge JC thought, this is just like a chess match, and her first move is a …

Queen’s Gambit

Should I decline it? How about…

“Well Miss Lucy, I don’t know why you specified women only, I am not sure if your operatives are women… although I know your sniper at the 46th floor is not… or is he… never mind Miss Lucy, don’t ask, don’t tell. OK, I’ll send you our women medical staff:

“OK then Judge JC, you have to fly them here at the rooftop, I’ll instuct my operatives to take them to the 43rd floor through the stairs, 44th floor is off-limits, they will have one hour… then after that, just you and me… for our intercourse.”

“Miss Lucy, I might be a good Judge, but I don’t know how to fly… we need Angel Gabriel for that.”